WOMEN'S RIGHTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23302, 22 March 1939, Page 5

WOMEN'S RIGHTS

UNITED ASSOCIATION FORMATION IN AUCKLAND POLITICAL BUT NON-PARTY "This is an organisation for serious thought and study," said Mrs. E. R. Armitage, president of the United Women's Association, when opening the first general meeting at the Harmony Hall last night. "I had wondered for a long time why so little use had been made of our women's franchise, and I decided it was time that women became militant, and amalgated to work for the cause of peace and justice." Mrs. Armitage said it was necessary to link up and find out what other women were doing. She hoped that eventually centres of the association would be formed in the four large cities of the Dominion, and that there would be branches throughout the country districts. The association was to be open to women from all classes of society, and all would bo encouraged to come forward and give the benefit of their experience to the organisation. "Our association is to be political, but non-party," added Mrs. Armitage. "We must remember that it is of no use putting forward any project unless we endeavour to have it passed by Parliament. To forward this end, publie speaking classes are to be held. Steps have also been taken to affiliate the organisation with the International Alliance of Women for Suffrage and Equal Citizenship, which originated in Washington, and has its centre in London, and to which societies from almost every country in the world are affiliated." Fuller Representation

Addresses on the ideals of the association were given by Mrs. P. HeatliPreest, Miss Edith Sutherland, and Miss 0. C. Foster. Mrs. Heath-Preest said it was time that the women of New Zealand took a more prominent place in public life. There were 30 women sitting in Congress in the United States, and even in Japan women were represented mora fullv than in New Zealand at present.

An address was given by the Hon. Mrs. E. Molesworth, who recently returned from a conference of the New Zealand Justices of the Peace Association: She said that although she was the only woman delegate at the conference, she succeeded in getting all her remits passed, but there were many appalling conditions that could only be remedied by the concerted action of women.

Mrs. Molesworth advocated that, in all cases concerning women which came before the Court, one of the justices should be a woman. There should be women on juries, women in the Magistrate's Court, and on any public body where both sexes were under consideration.

Women in the United States Mrs. St. Clair Wool lams spoke of the work of several of the women's organisations in the United States, which slio visited recently. She said progressive study groups were held, and in this way practical adult education was carried out extensively. A recitation was given by Mrs. Helen Griffiths. The following executive was announced President, Mrs. 10. R. Armitage; vice-presidents, the Hon. Mrs. E. Molesworth, Mrs. P. HeathPreest and Mrs. St. Clair Woollaitis; secretary and treasurer, Mrs. Sydney Smith; executive committee, Dr. Woodward Horslev, Mrs. Helen Griffiths, Mrs. Powell, Mrs. M. Ferguson, Mrs. Cull'ord Bell, Mrs. Clark, Miss Kdith Sutherland and Miss O. C. Foster.